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I have no tips, for the simple reason that this is the easiest HIV medication combo I've ever been on. If your experience is like mine the most you might experience is a headache one a week during the first month. An aspirin is all it took to deal with that.

I did not even get a headache, in fact the opposite, I was having bad headaches before starting meds and the meds got rid of them.

I guess the only tricky thing to some people (not a big deal for me) is the twice a day Isentress dosing. At first I set a cell phone alarm for both doses (9 AM and 9 PM) but now I'm able to remember without the alarm (even though compared to Miss P I'm really a newbie . . . let's see, 7 months versus 17 years!@).

It should be once-a-day in the near future and I heard a rumor that at some point it will be sold as one pill, like Atripla is.

PS: I read in one of your other posts that you're finishing a course of antibiotics, I highly recommend that you take some probiotcs (either pill form or something like Activia yogurt) in order to replenish your good bacteria and help avoid fungal and other infections.

Don't be scared of Isentress/Truvada it really is an easy combo and you will start seeing improvements in no time. Isentress has been shown to lower viral load very fast.

And make sure not to skip any Isentress/Truvada doses, especially in the beginning it's very important! Isentess is a great and potent drug but it does have a low barrier to resistance meaning if you skip doses, especially while you still have a viral load, you could become resistant.

thank you so much..just what i was hoping and looking to hear. i feel like such crap lately that i figured its time. my numbers have been as low as 50 and viral load starting to go up. so its time. thanks for the tip to take porbiotcs..have so much on my mind would not have even thought of it. since being on the forum and some wonderful response my fear is not as bad and i think im actually looking forward to starting and getting my energy back.

i did/do have occasional runs/runny stools , and belching----all gastrointestinal stuff. didn't ever notice any other side effects (nor benefits). sometimes i treat the diarrhea (immodium), but mostly i just ignore it and after an hour or less i am good to go (i.e., exercise strenuously). The belching is 75%+ gone due to below. i don't mind belching when alone, but it's definitely anti-social. you probably know about plain toast and lots of water, right?

the walking and oatmeal were added a half year back. i always exercised hard. positive changes occurred in 3 days.

I have been on Isentress/Truvada for about 3 weeks now and I must say that I have had no side affects from this combo. I was taking Atripla and had the CNS issues along with sleep issues. I have found since I switched to the Isentress/Truvada my sleep issues are getting better and I have no CNS issues. The switch after 5 years on Atripla has been the best thing I could have done for my mental health. I FEEL GREAT!!!!!!!!

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Atheist don't believe in GOD, but GOD believes in them and loves them. Never let the failure of man conflict with your love of GOD.

if thats the worst i will take it..i have been so nervous about starting meds. i hate oatmeal, but i will give it another try if it helps..lol will get immodium to have it on hand. these tips are so helpful...thank u!

mystery,so glad to hear meds are treating you well...that is very encouraging to hear.

If you find that you are having gastrointestinal issues try taking some pro biotics. I take DDS PROBIOTICS, Pro-bioplus DDS, and have found that I do not have any issues with runny stools. Probiotic will also help with restoring the natural flora to your intestinal tract which affects your immune system.

Good luck my friend you will do just fine.

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Atheist don't believe in GOD, but GOD believes in them and loves them. Never let the failure of man conflict with your love of GOD.

since im starting meds this evening...just want to make sure i do this right..i take both pills at same time right?? should i eat or it doesnt matter? last docs visit i took it so much info and want to make sure thats what i heard..

Hi Angel. Both meds can be taken with or without food. You can take both at the same time, but don't forget that the Isentress has to be taken twice a day. Take another dose of Isentress tomorrow morning, approximately twelve hours after the dose you take tonight. You only need to take the Truvada once a day and it's up to you whether you take it with your morning or evening dose of Isentress. It's probably best to take both together when you're taking them for the very first time ever.

If you haven't already found it, there is a section of this website dedicated to info on all the available hiv meds. click here

I'm so glad you're taking the plunge and starting. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

since im starting meds this evening...just want to make sure i do this right..i take both pills at same time right?? should i eat or it doesnt matter? last docs visit i took it so much info and want to make sure thats what i heard..

what a blessing this site is!!!!!

Isentress is to be taken twice a day or has your doctor prescribed it differently?

I take one Isentress and one Truvada at around 8 AM and then I take one Isentress at about 8 PM.

If you are taking Isentress as it's supposed to be prescribed (twice a day) then you should space it about 12 hours apart. It makes sense to start in the morning so you can then take your evening dose about 12 hours later. As Ann says, your first dose should be one where you take both together (this is important).

It was recommended to me to take Truvada as part of the morning dose to avoid possible sleep issues. I'm not sure if that is accurate or not (that Truvada causes sleep issues) but I take it in the morning just in case.

There's no rule against starting your meds in the evening when you are taking meds that have twice a day dosing but it makes more sense (to me anyway) to start with a morning dose.

Not that you should be delaying this any more but maybe just start tomorrow morning with one Isentress and one Truvada and then 12 hours later take your second dose of only Isentress, just a suggestion.

It helps, especially at first, to use a weekly pill dispenser. Fill it up for the week and start your meds, that way if you are not sure if you have taken a dose you can look at what's left in the dispenser.

I take my Isentress/Truvada at 11 am and then take my second Isentress at 11 PM. It does not matter if you eat anything with the medication. I tend to take it on an empty stomach. I am sure you will be just fine. Like many have said it's the easiest drug as far as side affects go.

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Atheist don't believe in GOD, but GOD believes in them and loves them. Never let the failure of man conflict with your love of GOD.

ok..so i will start tomorrow morning 8am...i was just double checking....

thank u so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Make sure you start tomorrow morning!

One Isentress and one Truvada at 8 AM and then just one Isentress at 8 PM. I was pretty exact about my timing at first (until the meds have time to get in your system and for you to become undetectable) but after a while you can be off with timing somewhat and it's not a big deal (avoid missing doses though).

You will more than likely not experience any side effects at all, as mentioned before this is a very easy combo.

8am and 8pm works perfect...i want to do this right! i havent gotten pill dispenser yet..im trying to figure out a system so im on point with all meds that i have to take..i take thyroid and blood pressure meds as well. with those meds u miss a dose not that big of a deal. im just hoping to feel better soon.

I use a pill box to keep track, and an alarm clock to alert me to the evening dose. I also have an Isentress tab stashed in my car. I've sometimes been as much as a few hours late, but in two years I've never completely missed a dose.

congratulations, this is something you really needed to do based on your CD4 count . . . . as long as you are adherent, you will do just fine . . . when is the next time you go in to get lab work done?

since you delayed starting that at least is good in one way: you should be able to build up a reserve supply of extra meds for a rainy day . . . you should make sure to renew as soon as you are able to every time, it's always good to have some extra meds on hand, you never know when they could come in handy

i just had lab work done. my cd4 counts have been low for so long, and i was just afraid to do anything. i was basing all my info on my experience with my husband who passed...when he did meds they just beat him up...we r going back 8 years. My doc has been on me to take meds for the longest time. im going to c him this week to tell him i started...omg he is going to b thrilled. so i want to say labs will b done in four weeks. would love to c some higher numbers or better yet just feel better. With two teenagers i need my energy back...lol.

as far as meds im prepared ...i made sure to have two month supply...u just never know.

so seven day into meds. Really not so bad. have had some stomach upset and gas, but thats been it so far. i was expecting so much worse. im hoping my energy will follow soon. but for all the people out there waiting to start....have some faith and just go for it.

so seven day into meds. Really not so bad. have had some stomach upset and gas, but thats been it so far. i was expecting so much worse. im hoping my energy will follow soon. but for all the people out there waiting to start....have some faith and just go for it.

That's great, angelbaby . . . keep us posted as your numbers improve.

I was curious to ask you about the thyroid pill b/c I think I might have to start on that. My TSH level has sometimes been a little high but then it goes back to normal so I have been avoiding it. It's weird, I'm having more hesitation over that than I did over the HIV meds. I know it's just a simple pill with no side effects, not sure why I'm being so hesitant.

I guess my questions are: were you feeling any of the classic low thyroid symptoms before starting the thyroid replacement? If so, did you notice improvements after starting? Do you take it every single day?

my thyroid numbers were very low. i was tired all the time and gaining weight. i want to say about two weeks into the medicine i felt better. i have to take it in morning with no food and have to wait about an hour to eat..there r no side affects so that was good. and yes it is everyday..u really have to stick to it for it to work...but i guess thats with everythng..lol

just updating, im a few weeks into meds and i dont know what i ever waited for. this is the best combo!!! other then a bit of a sour stomach here and there i have no complaints. i will b taking blood test in about a week or so to c if any improvement. im keeping my fingers crossed.

just updating, im a few weeks into meds and i dont know what i ever waited for. this is the best combo!!! other then a bit of a sour stomach here and there i have no complaints. i will b taking blood test in about a week or so to c if any improvement. im keeping my fingers crossed.

thanks again to all who encouraged me to start.

Great to hear that: we told you so!

Remember not to skip any doses since Isentress does have a low barrier to resistance. Keep us posted on your numbers.

just updating, im a few weeks into meds and i dont know what i ever waited for. this is the best combo!!! other then a bit of a sour stomach here and there i have no complaints. i will b taking blood test in about a week or so to c if any improvement. im keeping my fingers crossed.

so just another update. .. after 4 weeks on combo viral load undectable!! tcells havent moved much still at 100 but im hopeful..only thing i notice is some boby aches..anyone else get that???

What kind of body aches, can you be more specific?

The Tcells will start going up, you'll see. Mine didn't go up much when I had the first results 3 weeks after starting meds and then they went up to almost 700. Do you know when you go back for blood work?

so just another update. .. after 4 weeks on combo viral load undectable!! tcells havent moved much still at 100 but im hopeful..only thing i notice is some boby aches..anyone else get that???

If they feel like muscle aches you should call your doctor and talk to him/her about it. There is a small chance that Isentress can break down your muscle system in a way that can also harm your kidneys (rhabdomyolysis). That's why my doc took me off Isentress. If it sounds like this might be happening when you talk it over with your doctor, (s)he can test your CPK levels to see if they are out of whack.

It doesn't happen very often at all, but it is worth calling the doctor to talk about how you are feeling in case you are one of those rare cases for whom Isentress doesn't work well.

body is just full of aches, muscles are sore, kinda funny feeling. nothing i cant live with..sometimes i wiill take a vicodan and that seems to help. i mean if thats the worst of it i will take it. i just did blood work a week ago , so im guessing it will be about six weeks or so before i have to go again. keeping my fingers crossed that tcells go up in meantime. i was hoping to get my energy level back after starting the meds but thats the one thing i havent gotten back. there r days i feel like i have been in a boxing match and lost..lol.

hey anyone have any stomach issues with this combo? my only other concern is my energy level..its at o all the time! i cant figure it out ,mayb its meds ..not sure..i have went over this with doc a few times and then he will change some other meds i take that could cause this but that doesnt work. ..it is stressing me out big time..i have two teenagers i need to keep up with. wondering if its just bcause tcellls so low...april will b 15 years pos for me and this year it alll seems to be hitting me...i hate alll this complaining im doing but the help i get from you guys is so great...

hey anyone have any stomach issues with this combo? my only other concern is my energy level..its at o all the time! i cant figure it out ,mayb its meds ..not sure..i have went over this with doc a few times and then he will change some other meds i take that could cause this but that doesnt work. ..it is stressing me out big time..i have two teenagers i need to keep up with. wondering if its just bcause tcellls so low...april will b 15 years pos for me and this year it alll seems to be hitting me...i hate alll this complaining im doing but the help i get from you guys is so great...

I think it was Miss Philicia who once said in a thread: "Truvada makes you fart. It's just true." I've found that I am a little gassier than before, and if I don't eat around the time I take my medicine, I get to spend some time in the bathroom reading.

That said, I feel very lucky to have a doctor who was willing to prescribe Isentress/Truvada for me in the months before it was approved for treatment-naive patients. To his credit, he also discussed the data he had seen supporting once a day dosing, so I've always taken one daily dose - i.e., one Truvada and two Isentress at once. I understand that not everyone is comfortable taking that leap at this stage of the game... My viral load was undetectable in three weeks, my CD4s started to creep higher (slower than I'd like but I also have had a stressful life this past year which can contribute to depressed CD4s), and I felt like a million bucks... a "normal" feeling returned to my body. The only thing I noticed was that if I didn't make sure to time my lunch close to my dose, my tummy misbehaved.

It sounds like you're doing great. Definitely, as a matter of caution, make sure your doctor includes the creatine kinase test in your blood work - but she or he will probably do that anyway. And see if it helps to time your meals to coincide with your medicine... a little something solid might help with the tummy issues. There's no pharmacokinetic reason why you HAVE to take 'em with food - but it might offer a benefit regarding the way the combo treats your digestive tract.

I think it was Miss Philicia who once said in a thread: "Truvada makes you fart. It's just true." I've found that I am a little gassier than before, and if I don't eat around the time I take my medicine, I get to spend some time in the bathroom reading.

I can confirm this! From the moment I started Truvada I noticed an increase in my body's, uh, exhaust output. Once I asked a pharmacist what to do. Her response killed me: "Well, you can't make the gas completely disappear from the universe. Some people have mild success with simethicone, maybe you can try that."

Simethicone (Gas-X, Phazyme, generics) is a surfactant that breaks up large gas bubbles. I suppose, for those in whom it works, smaller bubbles just sort of escape all day without notice. It didn't work for me. My colon finally went silent when I switched to Epzicom.

Hi Angel. Both meds can be taken with or without food. You can take both at the same time, but don't forget that the Isentress has to be taken twice a day. Take another dose of Isentress tomorrow morning, approximately twelve hours after the dose you take tonight. You only need to take the Truvada once a day and it's up to you whether you take it with your morning or evening dose of Isentress. It's probably best to take both together when you're taking them for the very first time ever.

If you haven't already found it, there is a section of this website dedicated to info on all the available hiv meds. click here

I'm so glad you're taking the plunge and starting. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.you have to take Truvada with food, it is absorbed in the bowlAnn

yes , this started a few weeks into meds. im having a trouble eating, (which is not normal for me..lol) after eating breads or anything kinda heavy i have horrible stomach pains and become so tired..but if i eat yogurt and protein during the day my stomach seems ok.so weird ... i also notice that after starting meds little issues had started to come up...doc told me thats normal....

sometimes i think some of this may be some depression... i have alot going on to say the least...im not a doc person so im trying to figure this out on my own.